Happy Versus Unhappy "Hoarders" : The Inside Story On Clutter

Do You Have A Lot of Stuff ?

People often refer to themselves as a "hoarder" even when they are not really a "hoarder" but  shall we say are rather robust collectors. Now their collections can be NEAT or SLOPPY and they can feel proud of their COLLECTIONS or miserable about their stuff...too much stuff you might think as an outsider.  But I am convinced that just having a lot of stuff  does not label you a hoarder, so those of you who are reading this blog can relax in knowing that the size of your piles does not count towards level of craziness or
unhappiness for that matter.

Compulsive Collecting 

Now I'm not making light of  people who are troubled and who indeed live in home situations where their behavior of holding on to massive amounts of un-needed things is getting in the way of living a safe life. Nor am I minimizing the difficulty depressed people have mobilizing themselves to clean up.

Happy Collectors

I am pointing out that many people either enjoy being surrounded by STUFF or are so busy they can't keep up with their accumulations both old and new. These folks may look like hoarders but are really not, they are perfectly content, happy, reasonably normal ...they just have a lot of STUFF!

Read more: http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/collectors%20on%20the%20couch 


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

The Decorating Merry-Go-Round: The Psychology of Decorating Your House

The Ups and Downs of Decorating Your Home

Do you have a few minutes to schmooze about the ups and downs of decorating a house? You have often heard that doctors and nurses make the worst patients because they know way too much about medical issues. As a result of being too knowledgeable,   healthcare professionals scare the bonkers out of themselves thinking about what could go wrong.

Living In The World of Color and Design

Well apply this same concept of knowing way too much to creative types who are faced with decorating their very own homes. Because these artsy fartsy types live in the world of color and design on a regular basis, some of these same individuals become paralyzed when they have to make their own decorating decisions.

Creative Types Enjoy The Adventure of Decorating But Get So Little Done

Intuitively you might think that someone is the creative world would have such an easy time of it picking out fabrics, choosing furniture styles, letting go of old stuff etc, but that may not be the

http://jaimacompany.com/pattern-of-the-week-retro-bark-cloth-prints-2/

case at all. You see the more creative a person is, the harder it is for them to settle on anything. Artistic individuals live in the world of possibilities and enjoy the adventure of creating. In a nutshell, these creative junkies want to stay on  the decorating merry-go-round forever because the thrill of the ride is more exciting than a new couch!

 Artwork shown by C. Dianne Zweig

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Antique Therapy: Shopping at The Stratford Antique Center, Stratford, CT

Do You Feel Better When You Are Out Antiquing?  
 
We have all heard of retail therapy when you feel better shopping. I feel better antiquing. Don't get me wrong, I can always use a whopper dose of shopping, but for me the best medicine is not found  in a clothing store but in a junk shop or outrageoulsy large and stuffed antique center with 100-200 dealers.

Multi-Dealer Antique Centers

Multi-dealer Antique Malls are heaven for me. When I step into the door of these antique palaces, I get lost in my hunt and all the crazy preoccupations I had before entering this zone seem to melt away. My thoughts shift to looking for Mid-Century pottery or another attractive set of 1950s kitchen canisters or a colorful tablecloth without stains.

Visiting The Stratford Antique Center, Stratford, CT 

One of my primary mood boosting, cure all maladies and escape from crazy life type of places to visit and enjoy is The Stratford Antique Center in Stratford, CT.  This 16,500 square ft. building with approximately 200 dealers according to their website is AMAZING.

If you are in need of some serious antique therapy, let me suggest that you plan a trip to this popular Multi-Dealer Antique Center located off I-95 in Stratford, CT.  

More Multi-Deale Antique Centers in Connecticut

Other great LARGE Multi-Dealer centers to visit in Connecticut are The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT  and Antiques On The Farmington in Collinsville, CT

Readers, if you can suggest other great places to visit in Connecticut for some great antique retail therapy, please be sure to leave a comment. 

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Downsizing Your Home: Delay Tactics We Use To Hold Onto Stuff

Do You Save Old Things In Hiding Places To Avoid Parting With Your Collections?  

How can I be writing about downsizing a home when I am one of the biggest savers on the planet.
Besides collections of  this and that, I also am a bookaholic. I suppose I should be proud of my extensive collection of books since I hated reading in grade school. But it really is time to unload some of my "diet books" and "cookbooks" . I can't even believe I bought a book about how to convert every recipe by cooking with TOFU.

Are Your Closets Stuffed With Home Decorating Magazines? 

Oh and before I forget, I also buy way too many magazines and have stacks of  "Country Living", "Martha Stewart Living" and the once popular Mary Engelbreit "Home" piled up in one of my bedroom closets. I won't even go into the
discussion of how many old ski jackets I have hanging around or turtleneck tops I keep stored in plastic boxes. The turtlenecks went out in style for me when I no longer needed to keep my neck WARM because my hormones took over than job!

Why do we buy so much and save so much? Some people like ME....have what I call delay tactics which result in moving saved stuff around  instead of dumping old stuff.

Ways To Delay Dumping Stuff You Own That Needs To Be Gotten Rid Of

1. Open up an antique booth and move some of your collection to a new space (cheap storage).

2. Hide your old clothes that you don't wear anymore in plastic boxes instead of giving to others.

3. Bury boxes of children's toys in places in your home that you can't get to.

4. Schelp ridicuous memorabilia and junk (i.e. rusty road sign

your kid came home with in High School) up to your attic and hope the A/C mechanic doesn't kill himself when he is up there.

5. Pretend to be cleaning out stuff when in truth you are just organizing stuff to accomodate more stuff.

6. Keeping multiple refrigerators and freezers so that you can buy six loaves on bread and freeze and then decide the bread is too old to use.

Readers please add your delay tactics to this list on how you hold onto to stuff instead of throwing out.  








C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Common Excuses We Use To Save Old Or Outdated Vintage Stuff

Are You A Saver of Old Vintage Stuff? 

Do you save the winter time to organize your clutter? If the answer is is not exactly "yes",  then we are in the same club. I tell myself in the warmer months that I'll have plenty of indoor time during the winter months to straighten out

my piles of STUFF. I convince myself to save the big clean out projects for a nice snowy day.

Are You In The Mood To Visit Your Basement ?

Every now and then, I actually venture down to my basement and take a looky around and think.....I'm not in the mood today, maybe next week. And as you might imagine, weeks creep by and I'm back to Spring time and the last thing I want to do is stay indoors and clean out my basement when the weather is warm and the birds are chirping.

Common Excuses We Use To Save Old Or Outdated Vintage Stuff

I have developed a list of the common excuses we use why we do not throw out clutter that accumulates in our basment. Please feel free to add to this list.

1. You never know when you might need birthday plates with fire engines on them.

2. Graduation paper cups.....2011 can become 2014 or 2021very easily.

3. You might need children's boots in case some stray children show up at your door and want to build a snowman in your front yard.

4. In case your GPS fails you can choose one of the 768 tattered and torn maps you are saving.

5. They may call a Retro day at the beach this summer and your boom box radio will be fabulous!

6. It might be fun to have a Halloween picnic this summer and set the table with black and orange plastic forks and knives from a 1982 Halloween fest.

7. You can re-gift all the coffee mugs that your kids gave you that say Happy 40th, 50th, 60th etc. birthday. You can give them back to your kids!

8. Harvesting old jigsaw puzzle down in the basement is not such a bad idea...  you may one day find the missing pieces in your kitchen drawer,

READERS, please add to this list!!!!!!!!!!

Airplane and puzzle  photos are courtesy of House of Young http://houseofyoung.bigcartel.com/products 

Elephant image courtesy of Chock-A-Block on Etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChockaBlock?ref=l2-shopheader-name

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Downsizing A Home To Remedy The Decorating Mistakes You Made Over A Lifetime

Downsizing Isn't What You Think It is About

I have been giving a lot of thought to the concept of "downsizing" lately. At first I considered  the topic of "downsizing" as a process where you purge a lot of your junk and eventually move into a smaller place such as a condo where someone else rakes your leaves. But I have to be honest, this whole concept of "downsizing"  is indeed more dynamic  and exciting than practical. One person's downsize is another person's upsize. And many people are really having a "lifestyle change" more than giving up space.

Downsizing And Going Larger

Recently I met a woman who "downsized" from a 5000 square foot home to a 3000 square foot condo. For her this was a significant "downsize". Another couple I bumped into last week, "downsized" by leaving a small family ranch style home to move to what is actually a larger townhouse condo.   They still called this a "downsize" because they "threw out" all their old stuff.

Downsizing To Get A Better Look 

Which brings me to another related aspect of the "downsize" matter....just how many couples I talk with who "downsize" to create a new and exciting nest. The goal is a new look and not necessarily a streamlined condo.

Downsizing To Play House Again

So basically what I am getting at, is that the whole idea of "downsizing" to a condo isn't exactly about going into smaller quarters. Even getting beyond the original plan for many to eliminate the chores of maintaining a lawn, shoveling snow etc. and gaining other conveniences. Many couples take the leap to move to a condo for other reasons such as to see new faces and have a chance to play house again one more time. Let's face it, it is fun to buy new towels,  to junk your old kitchen set for something   more stylish and  to remedy the decorating mistakes you
have made over a lifetime.
 

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Holding Onto Vintage Baby Stuff When The Kids Are Out Of The House

Closets Filled With Collections of Baby Stuff And Old Collections 

Why on earth do we save so many things? And why do so many of us offer free storage facilities to grown up kids who have their own apartments or homes? I am holding onto a very delightful collection of vintage monkey collectibles which were destined to go back to my daughter's home  when she had a big enough place.  She has moved several times and each place gets bigger and bigger, yet the monkeys are still hanging out in one of my upstair bedroom closets.

Saving Chewed Up Baby Pacifers 

In that same closet are boxes of baby clothes, baby blankets and baby trinkets such as chewed up baby pacifers and rattles. I remember telling myself that the kids may want these boxes of cute baby tee shirts and onesies when they finish college, marry and begin to have their own children.  This is where the
symbol LOL really applies. Who am I kidding?  There is no way, my kids will want to allow their babies to mingle with baby stuff that hasn't seen fresh air in three decades or more.

Ready To Junk The Junk....Maybe

I thought about unpacking these boxes of baby memories and perhaps creating a Mixed Media baby art project assemblage or wall decor something or another. Yeah...right. Those boxes of baby things aren't going anywhere until I am ready to let go of them. O.K. I'M READY!

Readers, what's in your closets?

Monkey image courtesy of  http://www.etsy.com/listing/70528175/vintage-knickerbocker-curious-george

Rattle photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/socal72girl/7117585807/

Stacking toy from  http://daydreamlabs.com/user/22021583@N03/collections

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

The Thrill Of Buying Collections Versus Acquiring Collectibles One At A Time

Buying Collections Can Be Fun

If you are lucky, every now and then you come across an already put together collection of this or that. I have bought collections of "cows", "poodles", "dolls", "head vases", "planters" etc.  While I  get a kick out of coming home with what in the antique industry is a referred to as a "lot" (a grouping of items) some people prefer to hunt for their treasures one item at a time. I have even heard people say that when they buy someone else's collection they don't feel the same thrill as when they acquire one collectible at a time. I'm wondering what my readers think? Are you a one at a time buyer or  do you get a kick out of finding a whole collection of similar goodies in one sweep?

Image courtesy of Special Joys Doll Shop, Coventy, CT


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Collecting To My Hearts Content On Pinterest.com: Antiquing With The Click Of Your Mouse

Feeding Your Antique Itch On Pinterest.com

I'm not sure why I have  been cranking out so many blogs lately, but here is my theory. As I go out  antiquing to find great stuff, I'm not finding too many kitschy kitchen things that easily.  That is driving me to go "collecting" in my virtual world which leads me to Pinterest.com. The more I blog, the more pins (photos to share) I have for my Pinterest.com boards. And the more pins I post, the more followers I get. The more followers I get, the more new pins there are to repin.

The Psychology Of Antiquing On Pinterst.com 

Before you know it I have "collected" (pins of antiques and kitchen collectibles)  to my hearts content and I am on my way to vintage heaven. It's a very crazy but interesting phenomena , the ability to feed one's antiquing itch without having to spend any money. And it truly is working. It's like I am lighting up the neurons when I find something new to add to one of my many Pinterest boards.

Going Antiquing With One Touch Of The Mouse

Or another analogy which collecting on Pinterest .com reminds me of. Think of the old pinball machines when your silver ball hit a target and the bell went off.  Remember the excitement you would feel when your  ball went helter skeleter but stayed "live" and didn't go down the alley to pinball heaven. You felt alive, excited and satisfied. Well this is indeed a sad commentary on the digital generation. We can go junking or antiquing or collecting with  a touch of the mouse!

Now that is progress....or is it?  What do you think?


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Hopping Aboard The Retro Express To Stay Away From The Holiday Shoppers

Addicted To Blogging But It Will Cost You

Here is a curious observation. While everyone is out shopping for the holidays I am home writing about everyone shopping for the holidays. Now don't get me wrong I have done a fair share of shopping, but not  ""Mall" shopping. I am overwhelmed at this time of the year, preferring to shut down and climb aboard  the Retro express into yesteryear where I can  hide from the crowds, high prices and tumult of the season.

Addicted To Blogging At A Price


Back at my desk, I have blogged so many hours this month that I  actually had to buy more storage space from Google. By the way, I had no idea there was such a concept of renting storage space. Apparently  I used up my FREE blogging space.  Now I am beginning to get it, Google gets you addicted to blogging and gives you a free pass for the first few years and then you have to pay to have them store all your photos.

Paying To Live In Cyberspace 

Where on earth they store these photos, I have no idea. But it is quiet back in Cyberspace and I'll pay $2.50 a month to stay away from the holiday shoppers.

Please share with us your blogging experiences, are you "renting storage"?


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Mid-Century Christmas: Retro Memories

A Very Merry Retro Christmas 

The Mid-Century look is everywhere, in current clothing styles, home furnishings, kitchenwares and more.  Retailers are re-mixing designs, patterns and palettes from the Postwar period offering buyers a fresh interpretation of the Atomic era. But can stores really capture the nostalgia of the the 1950s.

Baby Boomers Remember1950s Christmas  

Baby boomers have clear memories of what it was like growing up in the 1950s. Thanks to sites like Pinterest,com you can capture those times in images from old magazine advertisements, vintage photographs, newspaper clippings,  store catalogs and books.


Pinterest.com Saving Christmas Memories

I poked around Pinterest.com this morning and put terms such as "Vintage Christmas", "Retro Christmas", "Christmas ads" in the search bar. Thanks to the wonderful gals and guys on Pinterest, I put together this post with shared images.

Enjoy a journey back to the 1950s during Christmas.

I wondered what a Mid Century Christmas might look like?  So I did some homework to offer you a glimpse of the styles and pictures that were indeed part of the holidays in the 1950s. 


We colored pictures in Christmas coloring books, now our kids draw on iPads and other devices.

Women were housewives who stayed home and served coffee and home baked cake and cookies in their kitchens.(I'm not sure if that is a good or bad memory). 


It was a very different time before the digital age, children played with Tinker toys and Tiny Tears dolls.

Families watched T.V. together as a family. Now we text at each other in the living room. Remember Ed Sullivan on Sunday evenings? 

Ed brought us new talent, now Simon Cowell is our source for an evening of 
song and dance.

Leave It To Beaver, Lassie and of course
I Love Lucy were our favorites.      

Homemakers sent out beautiful Christmas and holiday cards. Now families send out fancy animated  E Cards.  

Hallmark and Christmas went together
like candy canes and eggnog.The graphics were colorful, bold and saturated in primary colors of red, blue, yellow.   

Children picked out toys from mail order catalogs that they wanted for the holidays. Now our kids travel to The Apple Store for the latest tech device. 

The techy among us played with chemistry sets, Lionel trains and Erector sets. Our generation predated Legos, but we were builders of Lincoln Logs and blocks.     

The 1950s were a magical time, when children were children and they  believed in an enchanted holiday. 

I remember visiting sick children in the hospital  with my childhood friend Sharon. We made  a giant homemade Christmas holiday book. Remember trying to draw a Christmas tree. Trying to get the branches even?
I adored going to Woolworths with my mom or grandmother. I liked to look at the parakeets and bring home a cute pet toy for my poodle or more potholder loops. We usually stayed for lunch.   



Going to Radio City Music Hall for the annual Christmas show was a special treat. Dad worked in the city and I spent many holidays going to shows and iconic department stores. 
all


I would love to hear what you remember about your 1950s Christmas holidays.  Please share your memories or comments.


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen &ome Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Never Wear A Suit And Tie When Junking For Antiques: Imagining Mitt Romney At The Brimfield Flea Market

Who Would Handle The Brimfield Flea Market Better: Obama Or Romney?  

Now that the election is over, I can breath a sign of relief and return to the road antiquing without having to worry about  unseating our current president. Thank goodness I will not have to hear about another guy who is clothed in an expensive suit and tie claiming he can be president because he knows how to run a business.

Setting Mitt Romney Loose In Brimfield

If we really wanted to test the real business savvy of Mitt we should have given him two hundred bucks and set them loose in the Brimfield Flea Market for twenty minutes with the goal of returning with the most bang for his buck.

Sloshing Around The Brimfield Market Without An Entourage

And if we wanted to challenge  his endurance, I would have sent him during one of those very hot summer days without a shopping cart, paid helper or entourage. Or we might send Mitt after a torrential rain storm when the fields are somewhat soggy.  Now we are cooking....can you picture Mitt back in his own state of Massachusetts, sloshing around  a muddy Brimfield mingling with the hard core sellers?

Never Wear A Suit And Tie When Junking For Antiques And Collectibles

I could just visualize Mitt's outfit,  a pin striped shirt, navy jacket and a red tie.  Dressed to the nines, I'm betting Mitt would be in for a surprise when he picks up an item and asks the price. Rule number one when you are out junking, you never dress too spiffy when you are about to haggle with a hardcore picker turned  antique dealer.

Nix The Chauffeured Limo When Out Antiquing

The second bit of advice I would have  for Mitt would to tell him not to arrive to Brimfield in your chauffeured driven limo. Trust me it is not a good  bargaining tactic to show up in a fancy car.  Nor is it a good idea to bring Ann with you. Which brings me to my third pearl of wisdom when going to Brimfield, keep the jewelry home. You can not successfully whine about the price of a collectible when you  or a loved one is over accessorized.

My Money Is On Obama

Yes, the true test for me of which man Obama or Romney is truly the wiser of the two when it comes to business deals, is which one can navigate Brimfield like a pro. My money is on Obama....and now I can rest comfortably today and head out antiquing without any reservations.

Readers, I welcome your tips, comments and ideas.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists